JERUSALEM (VINnews) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he intends to phase out Israel’s reliance on U.S. military aid, drawing down the annual $3.8 billion in financial support to zero over the next decade.
Join our WhatsApp groupSubscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
In an interview broadcast on CBS’ “60 Minutes,” Netanyahu said he has already conveyed the plan to President Donald Trump and to Israeli officials, some of whom reacted with surprise.
“I’ve said this to President Trump. I’ve said it to our own people. Their jaws dropped, but I said I want to draw down to zero the American financial support, the financial component of the military cooperation that we have — because we receive 3.8 billion dollars a year,” Netanyahu said.
“I think that it’s time that we weaned ourselves from the remaining military support,” he added. “I want to start now.”
Netanyahu indicated the process could move faster than a full 10 years but should begin immediately rather than wait for future congressional negotiations. He framed the move as reflecting Israel’s growing economic strength and advanced domestic defense industry, which he said has reduced the need for external assistance.
The current memorandum of understanding providing $3.8 billion in annual U.S. aid to Israel runs through 2028. American military assistance to Israel has long enjoyed strong bipartisan support in Washington.
Netanyahu has previously told The Economist and other outlets of his intention to taper off the aid, describing it as a sign of Israel’s maturity as a strategic partner.
No immediate reaction was available from the White House or U.S. lawmakers.
Should have been done decades ago. By the way, Kahane was speaking against this “aid” four decades ago.
All this “aid” accomplishes is the destruction of the inhouse Israeli defense manufacturing as it is required to be spent exclusively in the US, gives away Israeli technology and intelligence for penny on a dollar, prevents Israel from freely competing in the international weapons trade, and makes Israel dependant on American (Dems’ and the trailer park Reps’) temper tantrums during wars when Israel needs weapons the most.
Hopefully, this ending of the “aid” will shut up the trailer park crowd that bitches and moans about the 4 billions to Israel, while they say nothing about the annual hundreds of billions given away to Germany, South Korea, sub Saharan Africa and all kinds of islamic countries.
Decades ago, BiBi said he wanted to do this. But US military industry and their lobbyists wanted Israel dependent on US, So do the non-friends of Israel. So they tried to set up a situation of Israel having no home grown defense. search old news archives about Israel’s “Lavi” war airplane.
Shoin tzeit.
Once trump leaves office that’s the end of aid from either democrat or republican parties. This became quite clear under the Biden administration that Israel can no longer be reliant on us aid and even at that point steps were being taken towards Israel’s armored defense independence
This is what the Honorable Jonathan Pollard has been calling for.
refusing american military aid is an old idea. it will take time to change over, but it’s a good thing. and pm netanyahu is picking a good time to do it, and develop israel’s exports, when nato will be replacing the guns they sent to ukraine. the orders have started already.
If this city materializes the list will be the us military complex Isreal get 3.8 billion in sid and then spends considerable more
By developing their own weapons systems they are now competing to sell them
To the world
Almost 50 (?) years ago
This is what Melech Ha’moshiach said years ago. Herzel dream was a place where all Jews can run to and the state should be suffecent to defend itseld.
Now the final Guela is at hand – Bourch Hashem.P.s> he did not mean self suffecent to protect tself by bringing gemorahs down to the front to stop terrorists.
Herzel was Rational.